Proactive approaches to fire management for the protection of life, property and the environment will become increasingly important as the rules applied in the past change under climate change.
“Many areas of Australia can expect an increase in bushfire activity and the number of days when fire danger ratings are very high to extreme as the impacts of climate change take hold,” Hotspots Strategist Waminda Parker said today.
“Now more than ever, it is important that landholders and local authorities work together strategically to prepare for fire. Well-informed and well-prepared communities complement the roles of land managers and fire experts for a shared planning approach to bushfire management.
“Across NSW, the Hotspots Fire Project is empowering local landholders and managers to implement fire management strategies to protect farm assets, homes and the diversity of native plants and animals on their land.
“Participants have the opportunity of working with local authorities, such as the Rural Fire Service and National Parks, on developing detailed fire management plans for their property. In many cases, neighbours can cooperate for the first time on plans covering several properties.
“Hotspots has successfully engaged Sapphire Coast landholders in increasing their bushfire preparedness in the past, including workshops held in Wyndham in the summer of 2006. We would welcome the opportunity to work closely again with community groups to improve local property and landscape-scale fire management planning.
“By understanding the role of fire in their region, landholders can better manage fire to help protect their assets, including their homes, productive farmland and the diversity of native plants and animals.
“Planning across a number of properties or at a landscape level can help create a mosaic of vegetation in different stages of post-fire development, providing a variety of food and shelter sources for native animals.
“It is impossible to eliminate fire from your property if you live in an area like the Sapphire Coast, but managing fire is an important part of better protecting your assets and managing the land,” Ms Parker said.
